Ironton firefighters and the Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office are jointly investigating four structure fires in less than a week.

Fire Chief Tom Runyon said all four fires are under investigation.

On Monday, Oct. 8, firefighters were called at 2:30 a.m. to a house fire at 1602 S. 11th St.

The occupant, Ricky Schwab, 53, was found in the front yard and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation. The rental property is owned by Jay Zornes.

Firefighters were called to three fires Saturday and Sunday, all within a roughly two-block area on the western end of town.

Outbuildings in the 2500 block of Fourth and a half alley and the 2500 block of Fifth and a half alley caught fire Saturday.

An outbuilding in the 2700 block of Fifth and a half alley was damaged by fire Sunday.

“They are suspicious and we are still in the process of investigating these,” Runyon said. “They (the fires at the three outbuildings) are quite possibly related but are not related to the fire last week.”

Runyon said details about the fires are not being released at this time.

He did ask residents who have outbuildings and garages that set close to alleys to keep watch for suspicious people and activity.